Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-02-10
The Farm in February.
American Agricu'turist for February.


February, the shortest of the months
standing between midwinter and the be-
ginning of spring, partakes In a measure,
of the chapter of both sessions. We of
ten have our severest weather, and the
laughing sunshine, with the bland airs
from the sunny southland. gives us occas-
sionally few almost summer days, as
reminder rhat in the never-ceasing round
of the seasons, winter is departing and
spring advancing. The season of study,
of planning and of maturing plans is
passing, while that of active telling work
is at the door. progress" should be the
thinking farmers motto and determine
ton. Among the new methods, new
varieties, new crops, new stock, new i'm
plements, new fertilizers constantly Of
fered and introduced, some are worthy of
Immediate adoption, because really better
than those we have had. Others are
temptingly offered with asseverations
and loudly supported claims that would
deceive the very elect" but are absolute
ly valuless. We should therefore make
haste slowly, and if farmer folks would
only be as ready to Investigate those new
things that offer fair reward for good
work as they are to take to frauds that
offer quick and great profits without an
equivalent in labor, their progress would
be rapid indeed.
Beet Sugar in California.
very full and satisfactory account of
the beet sugar industry in California is
given by Professor E. w. Hilgard, in the
September number of the Overland
Monthly. From these accounts it ap-
pears that the working results of the
10 60
the past two years kept on level with
those of the best European factories"
The principal points of peculiar adoption
of a certain portion of California to this
industry are mentioned; the chief of these
is the dry atmosphere by means OF which
the beets, aftel gathering, can be kept
! several months with little expense for
protection. Another advantage is that
''the absence of Summer rains in ordinary
seasons does away with large proportion
of the expensive manu- labor in hoeing
and wedding which forms considerable
item in the cost of production" in Europe
and in the Atlantic States. It also ap-
pears that higher sugar percentage is
secured In the California beets than those
employed in the best European factor
les.
The conclusion is. that there is album
dant reason for the assertion that the
beet sugar industry should be successful
In California, if anywhere, unless
an unfriendly commercial policy on
the part of the government should inter-
pose artificial obstacles. The Alvarado
factory 'has been exposed to adverse con-
ditiOns to the fullest extent, in the most
direct competition with the cheap pro-
duct of plantation labor imported free of
all duty from the Hawiian Islands, under
the provisions of the socalled reel procity
treaty, which, while reciprocal in prin-
ciple, but in practice works all one way.
The writer estimates that Almeda and
Santa Clara counties alone can yield an
annual product Of 76O,OOO,O 900 pounds; but
other portions are we'll adapted to this
industry, SO that California alone could
readily supply the entire present and
prospective sugar consumption of the
United States, and still leave pie room
for orchards and vineyards, and the pro-
duction Of the home supply of bread
stuffs."